Safty? (Veatrice POV)

“What are you doing here human,” growled the white alpha as she sat down. I looked at the alpha with a calm stare.

“I was being chased by the king of Draggerfall. Please forgive me for intruding in your forest. I will leave as soon as I reach the shore and get transport to Serrileone,” I said as I stepped forward bowing in respect to the guardians of the forest.

“No, you will come with us,” growled the black wolf to the left of the alpha.

“Yes, you will come with us to our castle,” the brown wolf to the right of the alpha said as he came forward sniffing the air around me. I was still bowing my head in respect when the brown wolf suddenly licked my face. My head shot up as I stumbled slightly backward as he licked my face again. I fall on my backside as he nipped my turban, removing it completely. Braids of hair cascaded down around my head as I sat on the ground wide-eyed. The brown wolf dropped my turban cloth on my lap and sat in front of me.

“Welcome to the Bireinen forest, sister,” he said as he smirked, as much as a wolf could smirk, looking at my ears. I felt my face heat up as I reached up covering my pointed ears.

“Ah… I knew you were different, although I did not know you were part elven,” the alpha said as she looked at my ears.

“Not many know about my sister’s or my past. I am part elven, and so is my sister, although she does not have pointed ears. Our mother was elven. She gave up her immortality to marry our father,” I said as I get up and unwarp my long braid from around my neck. The brown wolf smiled and came over to stand next to me. I looked down as he sat down to my right and leaned slightly into me.

“You are welcome to stay at the castle until everything is resolved,” he said as he looked at the alpha, or what I believed to be the alpha.

“I’m sorry but I must go to my lady in the mountains of Serrileone,” I said looking at the “alpha”. I was not sure if it was the white wolf anymore as the brown wolf nudged me to follow. The mare follows, uncertain of the wolves.

“I think you should stay away from humans, dear sister. With the likely hood of the king of Draggerfall looking for your head, you would be safer here with us,” the brown wolf stated as he walked at my side.

“Again, I must get to my queen. I am her companion and protector. I don’t know what would happen to my sister if something happened to my lady,” I insisted as I walk with the wolves. The brown wolf sighed as we neared the castle and walk through the gates before turning to the black wolf with a look.

The black wolf sighed and silver smoke wrapped around them transforming them into an elven form. I could not tell if they were male or female as I gazed at them. They had dark brown skin in this form, with black knee-length hair kept in a high ponytail with a braid from one side of their face to the other side as bangs. Their face was more angler and sharp with thin lips. They were wearing a loose-fitting white top with black tight-fitting breeches and black Kneehigh boots with silver laces. They also had a weapons belt with two short swords and a dagger at their waist and hip. They turn to look at me and bowed their head slightly, giving me a look at their striking silvereyes, before moving to take the bridle and mare to the stables.

I feel wisps of magic in the air as I pass through the gates and turn to see the white wolf had transformed also. Again, I could not tell if they were male or female as I looked at the “alpha”. They were on the shorter side for an elven person and had dark green hair styled in a pixie cut. They wore dark brown breeches with light brown boots that came to the middle of their calves, a flowing sage-colored shirt with billowing sleeves, and a tie collar. Their shirt was tucked into their breeches and at the hip was a foldable Bo staff and what looked to be a fencing sword. They had a small round face with slanted eyes of sage green and gold around slitted pupils. their skin was a darker tan with gold undertones. They also wore a gold chain in their left ear from the lower piercing to the cuff at the tip of their long-pointed ears. They looked at me before speaking.

“I will prepare your room for the night then if you must go back to that human. Hopefully, you are fully rested before going back to your death.” They said hotly before stocking off throwing open the main doors of the castle. I was about to speak when the brown wolf started to laugh. I turn to face the brown wolf noticing that they had yet to transform. They had sat down with their laughter and had their head thrown back. ‘that’s adorable’ I think as they continue. A small smile formed on my face as they finish.

“Come, I’ll show you where you can get supplies and travel gear.” They say before starting to walk toward the left of the gate where there is a large castle town. The air is filled with nightlife and the sound of a night market, soft and quiet. I could see the stalls filled with products ready to go for the morning. The wolf stops a few times and comments about the wares. I nod barely following along as exhaustion catches up with me. I realize I had been riding and fighting for about ten hours now as I see the sun just starting to rise. I keep up with the wolf even when they start to slow at the end of the market.

I stop with the wolf on a pier in the harbor realizing they had said something. I could not hear it as I stare at the beautiful sunrise on the water. I sigh as a feeling of home and calmness washes over me. The water is a large lake with an opening to the ocean right where the sun was rising. The boats I could see were swaying with a gentle breeze at the piers. Some of the fishermen were just returning with their catches, as others were preparing to ship off for the day. I close my eyes as the sun beams hit my face relishing in the warmth I feel at that moment. I jump as I feel arms cradle me from behind. I turn my head slightly to look into mauve eyes with gold and brown flecks in them. The man held my gaze for a minute before speaking.

“You need to rest before you collapse, Sweet One,” he said. I nod suddenly dizzy and I feel magic run through his arms as the magic transports us to an unfamiliar room. I instantly relax even though I don’t know where we were. I felt so safe in his arms, it was like I was under a spell. I know this not to be true though because I count not feel the residue from magic on my person.

“What is your name?” I ask sleepily as I sway slightly in his arms. I could not take my eyes off of his, so all I could see was his handsome face. He had a strong angular jaw line and high cheekbones, thin eyebrows, medium size nose that turned up slightly, a pointed chin, and long pointed ears. His skin was the color of ivory with a gold undertone, like a white opal. All of this paired with the mauve eyes made him very handsome.

“My name is Aias, Sweet One,” he said with a crooked smile on his lips.

“Veatrice,” I say as I was guided to sit on the bed next to the nightwear placed there.

“Myrill left those here for you. You should bathe before you rest, Sweet One. There is a tub in the corner behind that screen already prepared for you. I will leave you now, but if you need me, there is a gold stone on the table beside the bed. Just say my name and I will come to you,” Aias said as I gaze at him taking in his elven form. Aias was tall and broad with long muscular arms and legs. I would not believe he was an elf if not for his long ears and the magic feeling about him. He wore fitted light brown breeches with light brown knee-high boots with brown shin and knee guards. Aias also wore a dark blue tie collar shirt that was tucked into his breeches. It has fitted cuffs with billowing sleeves. At his waist, he had a dagger and a few pouches but no other visible weapons.

“Thank you Aias,” I say as I gain some energy and rise to bow to the kind stranger that made me feel so safe. Aias quickly stepped forward and grabbed me by my shoulders to prevent me from bowing to him.

“No need for thanks, Sweet One, I believe you deserve so much more than simply hospitality,” he said smiling, his hands rubbing small circles on my shoulders. Warmth flooded my being as heat raised to my face.

“Still thank you,” I say with a small smile and blush on my face. Aias smiles back at me before stepping back.

“It is no problem Sweet Veatrice,” a shiver goes up my spine as he says my name, “now relax and get some rest. You have a long trip to prepare for if you must get back to your lady,” Aias said smirking, teasing me and my conviction. I sigh at him before speaking.

“Yes, I do. Good night or should I say good morning.” It felt so surreal smirking and bantering with Aias. For a stranger, I felt safe and comfortable in his presence. The big smile that crossed Aias's face did surprise me but I forced myself not to react or change from my smirk.

“Have a good rest, Veatrice. Again, if you need me just use the stone, Sweet One,” Aias said before stepping away from me towards the door. I nod as I watch him leave. I look around the room now that I was alone. I take in the pretty view from the floor-to-ceiling windows across from the bed.

The door was to the left of the windows and in-between two wardrobes with tall candelabras between the door and the wardrobes. The wall the bed sat against and the wall with the door was the only full walls in the room. All the others had windows. I turn to look at the bed. Behind the bed, I see thick tapestries that depicted forests and mountains that looked so real I could step into them. The bed itself was a rich forest green color scheme with deep blue pillows and was quite large.

‘I could fit myself and my sister in that bed and not touch her or the edges,’ I thought with a small smile. I look to the left of the bed and see a desk with a bookcase in the corner. I see a screen in the opposite corner.

‘That must be the screen Aias was talking about,’ I think as I start to walk towards the screen. I admire the two chairs and fluffy animal skin rug in the middle of the room. The screen, I see as I approach it, is a light birch with flowers and a waterfall scene painted on it. I go behind the screen and see a large claw-footed tub that has steam and the scent of lavender and honey coming from it. The wall of windows behind the screen had slight tinting to them for privacy.

‘They must have used magic to tint them,’ I think before going to the bed to grab the nightwear. As I walk back to the bath, I see that the wall of windows had two doors to the balcony. One was in-between the screen and the door, and the other was between the tub and the desk. That one was also tinted. I look at the desk and see it is the same dark wood the wardrobes, bed, chairs, and table were made of. The desk had six drawers on either side of the chair. There was plenty of space on the top for paper, multiple quills, and a spot of an ink well, which I could see there were some already there, ready to go.

The chair was lined with animal pelts on the arms and a fluffy leather cushion on the seat. The chairs around the table in the middle of the room were the same design but lower to the ground with a low table between them. I step up to the cabinets behind the tub and place the gown and slippers next to the soft-looking towels. I glance at the tinted door between the tub and the desk and see a full-length mirror.

I take in my tired form as I start to undress. I drop my brown turban cloth I was holding as I see my olive tan skin was covered in dried blood and dirt where the tan ankle-length dress was exposed. The dress was covered in grime and blood with tears in the front and it had no right sleeve. I remember ripping the sleeve in a fight to get away after killing the two princes from Draggerfall. A spear had caught just above my right shoulder as I turned on the mare tearing the sleeve away. I look at my arm and see a scratch that was not very deep. My magic was already healing it to a light pink scar. I quickly take off the dress along with the thin under dress leaving me naked in front of the mirror. I look over my form for any other wounds that were healing.

‘An unknown injury will kill a warrior faster than the enemy,’ my instructor's voice rings through my mind from a distant memory. I smile at it as I see no other injuries. My form is a medium build with lean muscles on my arms and legs, smaller breasts, and a long torso. My face was smudged with grime also but I could see thin angled eyebrows, high cheekbones, and thick lips. I had a small nose, pointed human-sized ears, and raven black eyes with gold around the pupil. The gold was large and bright as the magic coursed through and around my body.

 “I must have lost my belt and weapons amidst the fighting,” I said to myself as I undid my midnight knee-length braids. I pile it on top of my head, tied with the turban cloth to be taken care of later. I walk to the tub and see an assortment of soaps and glass vials filled with oils. I lift one of the vials and smell roses and honey. I place it back and get into the lavender and honey-smelling water. I clean myself from my ears to my toes with lavender soap. After rinsing my body of suds, I untied my hair and dipped it into the water. I watched as the grime and dried blood was rinsed from my neck and around my face. I see a wide-tooth bone comb next to the soap as I sit on the edge of the tub. I grab it after working some soap into my hair. I start to work through the mass of hair attached to my head.

‘Always start at the tips and work your way up Vea’ my mother’s voice echoed in my head. I finish working the knots and tangles out of my hair before rinsing it in the water. Once all the suds were gone, I grabbed the vial of oil I had smelled earlier and started to work it into my hair. I run the comb through once more and start to braid.

‘They should dry faster like this with a small spell,’ I think as braid my hair into serval small braids. I run magic up through my arms and heat the air around them as I work. I tie it again around my head as I finish drying my hair. I stand from the edge and get out of the tub. I grab a towel and run it across my body. It was very soft as it dried my body. I place the towel on the edge of the tub and walk to the gown as a thought ran thru my mind.

‘Anna would have loved to see me pampering myself like this’ I slip the gown over my head, it falls to just above my ankles and has ties at the waist, collar, and cuffs at my wrists. I tie the cuffs tight, as well as the waist, while the collar I left loose. I look at myself in the mirror admiring how the soft light blue gown lightly falls around my collar bones. I sigh as my exhaustion becomes known once more. I put the rabbit-lined leather slippers on my worn, scraped, and tired feet.

“I should have put my boots on before fighting. I will regret that when I wake, even with my magic healing me, I will be sore,” I say to myself as I walk to the bed. I turn down the covers and crawl into the middle of the bed. I send a small wind spell around the room blowing out candles and closing the thick dark green curtains on the windows. I lay my head on the pillow as darkness surrounds me even as the sun rises higher in the sky outside. I close my eyes and know no more until I wake.